An Examination of the Subsections of the Local Calendar of the Lak Ethnic Group (Case Study: Lorestan Province)

Abstract

The aim of this article is to examine the structure and foundational principles of the Lak calendrical system. The central research question focuses on identifying which aspects of the Lak people's way of life have given rise to the formation of their local calendar. The findings indicate that the structure and foundational principles of this calendar are primarily based on the livelihood patterns of the Lak community. This article has been composed using a descriptive methodology and is based on data gathered through fieldwork, document analysis, and library research. The geographical scope of the present study includes three Lak-inhabited counties in Lorestan Province: Nurabad, Kuhdasht, and Alishtar (Lakestan). One of the subjects that has drawn the attention of cultural researchers and Iranologists is the study of calendars and the examination of local timekeeping systems among various ethnic groups in Iran. However, this topic has not yet been independently explored in relation to the Lak ethnic group. The Laks are an independent group of Iranian-speaking peoples who possess a rich heritage of ancient cultural elements. The Lak calendar is based on the method of measuring time and calculating days, weeks, months, and specific time-related terminologies, all of which are rooted in the native lifestyle and living conditions of the particular regions inhabited by the Lak people. These calendrical elements have been preserved through oral tradition across generations.